​DON'T PAY DOUBLE RATES

Seeking support for nominations for Kim Condon and Damon Crowe to the Board of BIDS/DUBLIN TOWN.​As you are aware they were both involved in the NO TO BIDS campaign.They received 715 votes in support of our position. This meant we lost by a tiny amount as roughly half the membership of BIDS did not vote at all.We want to seek election to put forward the issues raised by those voters.We also want to engage with the members who did not vote.

There are vital issues facing our City.

We need to re-engage with the customers we have all lost over the last ten years.

The City needs to be maintained to a level that immediately presents a pleasant, vibrant, safe, engaging, welcoming, easy to navigate face to locals, visitors and Businesses. In short, we need to compete on a level with every other City in the World.

We feel we must represent the views of those who are disenchanted with BIDS. It is a long five years to the next renewal of Mandate and our City needs action now.

It is clear that BIDS has not met those needs. The introduction of fresh thinking on the Board can only result in a positive outcome for everyone from businesses such as Hotels, Restaurants, Bars, Shopping Centres, Independent Retailers, Cinemas, Beauty Bars, Museums, Galleries to every supporting service in the City as well as maintaining the very valuable employment they provide.

We must address our issues now.

We want direct input into decisions made by DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL.

We want to decide how our money is spent by both Rates and the BIDS levy.

WHAT CAN YOU DO RIGHT NOW?

Please consider asking people to name us as their Proxy for the AGM. They have received the forms.The AGM is on 7th November.

If they could send the proxy to BIDS and then email a copy to me Kim.condon@hotmail.com that would be great

This is a vital moment in the future of the City.​ Please join us in our efforts to propel Dublin to its rightful position as one of the most prominent Cities in the World.

Serious concerns regarding the validity of the BID vote

​Independent observer gives account of unorthodox proceedures

BID Plebiscite CountCity HallMonday 17th July 2017

I attended the City Hall count as an observer by permission of the Returning Officer, Deirdre Ní Raghallaigh.I have many years of experience attending at counts in Ireland since 1987 acting as a tallyman and as an election agent. I have also attended as representative at recounts of local, national and European elections.This count was like no other count I have attended.The plebiscite was conducted under S.I. No. 166 of 2007 titled Local Government (Business Improvement Districts Ratepayer Plebiscite) Regulations 2007.Article 5 of these regulations states the returning officer shall be responsible for the proper administration of the plebiscite. No further guidance is given as to the conduct of the count.Regulations provide for preparation of the electoral roll, the issue of ballot papers and their return by post.The most unusual aspect of this plebiscite is that the ballot papers must be signed by the voter. Notably there are no regulations for the receipt and accounting of the ballot papers other than to place them “immediately” in a ballot box.

My observations:There were just two ballot boxes each closed with a simple lock. They were not sealed.When opened it was clear that they contained bundles of envelopes which had been collected together and deposited in the boxes directly and not through the slot in the lid of the box.There were several A4 envelopes including a Jiffy bag containing ballot envelopes. There was one bundle of envelopes some 3 cm thick, nicely squared off and held by an elastic band. When the RO was asked how these bundles came to be in the box she explained that the boxes were kept in the Chief Executive’s office, that the keys were also kept there and that she opened the box to place the bundles of votes therein and relocked the box. After the envelopes were opened to take out the ballots the RO announced that there were some superfluous papers:167 cover letterssome compliment slips5 items of poll literature from the NO campaign2 housing applicationsThere was no declaration of a count of envelopes. Later she announced there were 3 additional letters and one forged ballot.The ballots were placed in sequential order and compared to the electoral roll.

The observers present could only observe from a distance. No scrutiny was possible.It was announced that were 25 spoiled votes though this could not be confirmed.

The result of the poll was declared as follows:The RO stated that the Poll was 1,583 excluding 5 duplicatesSpoiled 25Valid poll 1,558Yes 843No 715The BID proposal was declared carried.

Comments:This was like no other count I have attended.Normal count procedures and safeguards were absent. The RO did not describe her actions per Article 12 which requires her to close, endorse and sign any non-standard envelopes received. There were clearly at least three such envelopes.There was no reconciliation of the individual ballot boxes.There was no description of the chain of custody of the boxes.They were not sealed at the beginning of the poll. It is not known how they were secured during the poll to be formally opened after the poll closed. A great show was made of opening the lock in the presence of the Lord Mayor. However the irony was missed in that a lock is not a seal. The norm is to use ribbon and red sealing wax as will be confirmed by any experienced presiding officer or returning officer. Boxes were not enumerated.It is understood that one box was placed at Reception in Civic Offices.All in all it was a novel experience. I could not have trust in this poll. No external scrutiny was possible. However the count was conducted in line with the Regulations for the holding of the ratepayer plebiscite. These Regulations are poorly drafted and lack the normal well understood procedures for holding trustworthy polls.

Joe McCarthy

​Press Release in relation to BID election process

25th July 2017No to BID Campaign Vows to Continuetheir Campaign to Stand-Down BID SchemeCalls on Gardaí to Investigate Vote The No to BID Campaign group, formed to campaign against the renewal of the Dublin BID scheme, have announced that they will continue their campaign. The announcement comes in the wake of the narrow vote among city centre businesses on the renewal of the Dublin BID scheme for another five years. The No to BID group have renewed their mandate to ramp up their campaign following a huge 50% increase on the No vote from 2012.A statement from No to BID spokesperson Kim Condon raised some of the concerns that arose during the campaign and during the election count on the 17th July; ‘’We also have extremely grave concerns about the unsound legislation and unsafe procedures surrounding the manner in which the plebiscite was conducted. A senior official in Dublin City Council admitted opening the ballot box and placing a large number of envelopes inside. We have written to An Garda Síochana asking them to investigate this incident. The No to BID Campaign will continue to campaign for transparency, accountability and corporate governance.’’Ms Condon went on to say that the group will continue its campaign to disband Dublin BID; ‘’Following a meeting yesterday, the No to BID Campaign came to a unanimous decision to continue the campaign to disband the Dublin BID scheme and the private company DublinTown. We would like to thank all of the businesses for their continued support for the campaign to end the BID. We will represent the best interests of the city centre business community going forward.’’The vote to disband the Dublin BID was held among certain business (double) ratepayers in the city centre. After a divisive campaign, the Yes vote has seen a collapse in its support with 843 business voting yes, compared to almost 1,100 in 2012 or a drop of over 20%. The No vote has seen its share surge from 511 in 2012 to 715 in 2017, an increase of almost 50%The No to BID Campaign represents over 700 small and medium sized businesses. The No campaign had wide support, including the Restaurants Association of Ireland, the Irish Hotels Federation, the Irish Hairdressers Federation and the Irish Newsagents and Convenience Stores Association.ENDSNotes to the Editor:Attached is Joe McCarthy’s note, an independent observer at the count on July 17th.His note provides detail on the No to BID Campaign’s concerns over the voting and counting procedures. (Mr Mc Carthy's notes can be viewed under video link below)

Kim Condon is available for interview.​

BID Plebiscite results

Cllrs on Board of BID/Dublintown support private quango

Cllr Lacey (Labour) and Cllr Nial Ring (Independent) have come out in support of the privitisation of street cleaning services in defiance of SIPTU, Trade Union, Shop stewards and DCC waste management workers. Both Cllrs are on the Board of the 'BID/We are Dublin Town' a private Company and a Quango which has basically been engaged in misinformation and scaremongering in the face of many businesses who wish to end their involvement with this quango.

Hear what businesses have to say and why they are voting NO to BID

Joe Macken (Jo Burger, Crackbird, Bear and more), Kim Condon (Magill's Delicatessen) Margaret Brannigan (Gollum's Jewellery) are just a few of the hundreds of businesses who are saying NO, and voting NO .​ Join them.​Why pay Double Rates?

DublinTown (formerly Dublin BID) is a company which was set up in 2008 following a vote of Dublin city centre businesses. It is charged with improving Dublin City as a commercial district. Businesses in the district pay a compulsory levy of 5% of their commercial rates. DublinTown is renewed every five years by a vote of businesses in the district. The vote this year is overshadowed by a groundswell of anger and mistrust from businesses, a proposed increase to the levy and highly-contested footfall figures.

Bobby Kerr addresses the issues at the centre of the Vote No to BID Campaign (Newstalk Radio) 8th July

Kim Condon speaks with Bobby Kerry on Newstalk Radio on the rationale of the No Campaign and why the BID/We are Dublintown is bad for the city of Dublin and bad for business. The CEO of BID tries to justify double rates. Listen to Podcast here.

Video: Members explain why they will be voting NO

Press arrow to play video

VOTE NOto Dublintown/BIDunfair double rate

GET RID OF THE BID/DUBLINTOWN LEVY

On the 20th June 2017 Dublin City Council posted out Ballots Papers to over 3,000 City Centre Ratepayers who are eligible to vote in the Plebiscite on the Renewal of the Dublin City Business Improvement District. (BID)This Plebiscite is being carried out to establish the level of support for the renewal of the BID which has operated in Dublin City since January 2008. If passed, the BID will continue for another five years, effective from January 2018 until December 2022. The BID Company is trading as Dublin Town.

Ballots must be signed by the relevant ratepayer/ratepayers and returned to the Returning Officer, Deirdre NíRaghallaigh by 12 noon on Monday, July 17th 2017. The outcome of the Plebiscite is decided by a simple majority of votes cast.

Make sure you have received your ballot paper and that you mark X in the NO box and return your ballot paper to DCC before 12 noon on Monday 17th.

VOTE NO PRESS LAUNCH: JUNE 27TH

Very successful Press Launch this morning of the NO TO BID CAMPAIGN. Packed house. Positive response and a great desire to Exit the BID/Dublintown. A very positive move for Dublin City businesses. Also, a great piece in the Irish Times today(Traders to ballot on future of Dublintown business group)and this evening - Campaigners call for disbandment of Dublintown group

VOTE NO TO 2017 BID RENEWAL SCHEME

NOT THE BARGAIN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS

Since its inception the BID/Dublintown scheme has failed to deliver to Dublin Businesses. Millions of our euros have been wasted on it. It is now time for us businesses to Vote the BID out of existence. Why should we pay money for something we never wanted in the first place? Why should we pay an extra rate that is unfair to those of us who are forced to pay it annually? There is no point in being part of a scheme that doesn't listen to its members, take our views into account or consult with us. We are now hostage to the BID scheme and the only way out is to Vote it out. ​​We need to VOTE NO to put our money back into our business. ​​